Review of drowning case from Crystal Lake and the discovery of the victim 9 years

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after the drowning

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Crystal Lake is a freshwater lake in Northwestern Michigan’s Benzie county

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It is spring fed and is 9 miles long and 3 miles wide

Maximum DEPTH 160 FEET

The victim was located in the Southwestern portion of the lake in 110 feet of water

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lying face up on the bottom

Crystal Lake is in very close proximity to Lake Michigan and is directly effected by

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wind and weather conditions on Lake Michigan.

The shoreline is surrounded by residences and wooded areas with some light

commercial use ( yacht clubs/ marinas)

19 year old victim activity prior to drowning riding a personal watercraft / swimming

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Date of incident 08/09/1998 time of incident 1740 hours

P.W.C. had been located approx ½ mile from the s.w. corner of the lake ( the yacht

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club)

Vessel was towed to the yacht club by good samariitan

Personal floatation device was recovered near where the p.w.c. had been recovered

Owner of p.w.c. advised his son was last seen riding the p.w.c. approx 1600-1630,

and was now missing

Victim was observed putting on p.f.d. and securing it prior to leaving the yacht club

Victim observed doing tricks on the lake

Father of victim and friends began searching the lake for victim for approximately 3

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hours

Numerous other good samaritans on boats and on foot along shoreline looking for

victim and interviewing people along shoreline

Benzie County Sheriff marine Patrol

Grand Traverse County Dive Team

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter

Additional searches conducted on subsequent days

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8-10-98

Continued search of the lake and shoreline by Benzie County Marine Unit and good samaritans

09/28/05 sonar search of lake by Independence k-9 search and rescue

Side scan sonar located image possibly of victim in 90 feet of water

Dive by Benzie County Dive team no recovery

Private canine search with cadaver dog had significant hit in area of sonar image

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The are searched by K.E.R.M.I.T. was outlined by G.P.S. coordinates from sonar

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and canine search results

Conditions on the lake during search were far less than favorable 45 degree air and

water temp 3-4 foot rolling waves 30-40 m.p.h. wind out of the west.

Boat used for operation 16 foot flat bottom rescue one boat

Challenges- wind waves and weather

Bilge pump broke during operation ( required on water repair)

Video Ray Manipulator arm stopped working prior to discovery of victim

Victim discovered second day of operation total time of search 14 hours bottom time

½ mile east of 7 mile beach

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2 sets of g.p.s. coordinates provided approx 200 yards apart

Cold windy waves

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Boat used in this operation 16 foot flat bottom 6 foot beam 1 foot freeboard strong

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wind 3-4 foot waves every third or fourth wave breaking over bow of boat.

Video Ray challenges

Recently received Video Ray R.O.V. no formal training in operation of Video Ray

Had only operated Video Ray one time prior to search

(on the job training)

Bright spot Incredible support from Video Ray via telephone during operation

This is the sequence for locating the victim

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At the time of the Sonar search a weighted cup was dropped on the location of the

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sonar image

This cup was located on the second day of the search

A long piece of metal rod was dropped at the site of the canine cadaver dog hit

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After locating the “Cup” R.O.V. Operators switched positions and after approx 30

minutes additional search located “the Rod” the Video Ray was parked observing

the rod , and operators switched again

The Video Ray was rotated 180 degrees and had a clear view of the body of the

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victim

Located victim in 110 feet of water

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Dive team from Benzie County arrived on scene with three divers after preping for

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the dive the divers were transported to the site

A six minute dive was performed in which the diver landed between the victim and

the R.O.V. causing great disturbance in the water clouding visibility

The R.O.V. was removed from the water

The Michigan State Police Dive Team was to perform a dive to attempt recovery

arrived on scene and prepared to dive however they were called off to a fresh active drowning

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